The Over-Achieving Poinsettia

This holiday season I have under-achievers:

And, over-achievers! Check out last year's Poinsettia. She's turning red without all the pomp & circumstance.

Some gardeners like to show off their skills.

So, they put their Poinsettias on a super strict regimen: 8 weeks with exactly 10 hours of sunlight and 14 hours of solid darkness.

That's the only way to get these pretty perennials to turn red.

Or, so they say. Mine turns a variegated red & green without any effort at all.

The truth about Poinsettias is that their bright red leaves are naturally celebrating what the rest of us are lamenting - the long, dark days of winter.

December 12th is National Poinsettia Day. Pick one up for me, too.